I stopped by the taco truck in Rockwood after work today. Usually, on a Friday in August, the place is packed with people getting food for the weekend. Today? Practically a ghost town.

I talked to the owner, Fernando, while I was waiting for my carnitas. He said sales are down 40% because people are terrified to leave their houses. There’s been a 'silent surge' of immigration arrests around Portland lately, especially in parking lots near grocery stores and Walmarts.

It’s a load of crap. These are hard-working people trying to build something for their families. Fernando’s already had to cut hours for his crew, and one of his best workers quit just because she was scared to commute.

We’re supposed to be a community that looks out for each other. Instead, we’ve got federal agents scaring off customers and ruining small businesses that actually contribute to this city. As a carpenter, I know you can’t build anything decent on a foundation of fear. We need to do better by our neighbors.